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The Indochinese Communist Party is Founded
When Ho Chi Minh returned to Southeast Asia in 1930, he founded the Indochinese Communist Party and started to work towards independence. -
The Vietminh is Started
After spending years in exile in the Soviet Union and China, Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam in 1941. In order to remove Japan from control, he created the Vietminh, which consisted of communists and non-communists. The United States also started to aid Vietnam in their fight for independence. -
Japan Leaves Indochina
In 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allies and gave up control of Indochina. Ho Chi Minh was then very quick to declare Vietnam's independence, which made France angry. -
France Attacks Vietnam
Not wanting to lose their former colony, France attacked Vietnam, forcing the Vietminh to go into hiding, in 1946 -
The United States Helps France
When the Vietminh started to attack back , France called for help from the United States. The U.S. decided to aid France because the U.S. was afraid that if Vietnam fell to communism, so would the surrounding countries. -
The Geneva Accords
To reach an agreement, negotiations were held in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting started on April 26, 1954. It was decided that Vietnam was to be split at the 17th parallel. Ho Chi Minh became the ruler over the communist North Vietnam, and Ngo Dinh Diem along with help from the United States became the ruler of South Vietnam. -
France Leaves Indochina
After a lot of fighting, France eventually surrendered on May 7, 1954. This defeat caused France to leave and make peace with Indochina. -
The Vietcong Begin to Take Over
In order to reunify Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh created the Vietcong, a group of communists from South Vietnam. The Vietcong became more powerful, even when being attacked by reinforcement from the U.S., because many people hated Diem. By 1961, the Vietcong had regained much control over a lot of the countryside. -
Diem is Overthrown
On November 1, 1963, U.S. generals arranged a military coup to seize power and overthrow Diem. After Diem was overthrown, he was executed a few days later. -
U.S. Destroyers Attacked
On August 2, 1964, President Johnson announced that North Vietnamese torpedo boats had attacked two U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. Two days later he reported another attack. -
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
After the Gulf of Tonkin attack, President Johnson met with the U.S. congress. He asked the congress for the authority to defend American forces and allies in Southeast Asia, and the congress agreed on August 7, 1964.